{
  "abstract": "Background Post-operative wound management plays an important role in orthopaedic recovery. Closed-suction drains are commonly used to reduce wound collection, hematoma, seroma, and tension; however, their routine use remains debatable due to concerns about increased blood loss, transfusion requirements, discomfort, prolonged hospital stay, infection risk, cost, and additional drain-site scarring. Aim To evaluate the results of the 'No Drain' strategy in post-operative orthopaedic cases. Materials and methods This prospective observational study was conducted from September 2024 to April 2026 after ethical approval. A total of 114 patients undergoing clean orthopaedic surgeries were divided equally into Group A and Group B, with 57 patients in each group. Group A was managed without a drain, while Group B was managed with a closed negative suction drain. The study included arthroplasty, trauma, spine, and arthroscopy procedures. Outcomes assessed included post-operative hemoglobin drop, packed cell volume (PCV) transfusion requirement, hospital stay, complications, Visual Analogue Scale score (VAS), Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale score (SBSES), and drain-related cost. Results Group A had significantly lower post-operative hemoglobin drop than Group B (1.40 ± 0.69 g/dL vs 1.91 ± 0.80 g/dL; p < 0.001) and lower PCV transfusion requirement (0.72 ± 0.80 vs 1.18 ± 1.04 units; p = 0.010). Hospital stay was shorter in Group A (3.00 ± 0.00 vs 4.49 ± 1.70 days; p < 0.001). Complications were fewer in Group A (3.5% vs 17.5%; p = 0.015). Group A also showed a better VAS score (2.42 ± 1.12 vs 4.12 ± 1.56; p < 0.001) and SBSES score (3.88 ± 0.89 vs 2.89 ± 0.94; p < 0.001). Conclusion The 'No Drain' strategy is safe, effective, patient-friendly, and cost-saving in clean post-operative orthopaedic cases. Routine drains should be used selectively.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Orthopaedics, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Vadodara, IND.",
    "Orthopaedics, Akshar Multispeciality Hospital, Vadodara, IND."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Manish R Shah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ravi Undhad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Tarun Das"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Shubham M Nagar"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sankalp S Jain"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Harsh Suthar",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4676-9192"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2hbe0wv8x9sz8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.7759/cureus.116690",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13687811",
  "id": "2hbe0wv8x9sz8",
  "issns": [
    "2168-8184"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923196",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2746|Surgical site infection prevention"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213974843",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13687811?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13687811",
  "pmid": "42923196",
  "published": "2026-09-21",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2hbe0wv8x9sz8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:02Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42923196",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923196"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2746|Surgical site infection prevention",
      "subfield": "surgery"
    }
  ],
  "title": "'No Drain' Strategy for Post-operative Orthopaedic Cases.",
  "title_text": "'No Drain' Strategy for Post-operative Orthopaedic Cases.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:21:02Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2hbe0wv8x9sz8",
  "venue": "Cureus",
  "versions": []
}